Lake Shore
Hosp Authority

The clear cut park area 8 days after the trees met the
chain saws. The monument dedicated to W.H. Wilson's
deceased wife dedicating his land gift in her name is
nowhere to be seen.

By Stew Lilker

COLUMBIA COUNTY/LAKE CITY, FL – Shortly after the
June 20 Lake Shore Hospital Authority Board sponsored
clear cutting of the wooded parkland and bird habitat
next to the hospital, Barbara Lemley and others noticed
that the monument dedicating the gift of the park
property disappeared along with the trees. At midday On
July 1, Ms. Lemley stopped into the Authority Hdq to
inquire about the monument's whereabouts. After some
persuasion, Authority Manager Berry came out of his
office to greet Ms. Lemley.

Background

For decades, the little park next to Shands at
Lakeshore, the hospital owned by the Lake Shore Hospital
Authority, has been a place of respite out of the sun
for those who visited Lake DeSoto in downtown Lake City.

The land was dedicated by W.H. Wilson. The monument
reads: This lot donated by W.H. Wilson in memory of his
deceased wife, Etha Hankins Wilson who departed this
life July 16, 1934 at Lake City, Florida.

It is thought that the land was donated around that
time, but no documents related to the land transfer have
been located.

On March 14, Manager Berry made
the bogus claim that the little park was an "illegal
drug store at night." The Lake City Police Department
said that was not true.

Questions regarding an unfair bidding process and
whether or not Manager Berry followed basic procurement
rules plagued the project.

Berry's
Behavior Ignored
Governor's Board Non Pulsed

May 12, 2016, was the day Manager Berry began turning
his back on people as they addressed the board.

The first victim of Manager Berry's outrageous
behavior was Lake City/Columbia County resident, Sandra
Buck-Camp, a retired pharmacist. As she began to speak,
Manager Berry turned his back on her. The Governor's
Board did not take exception and Mr. Berry has been
turning his back on citizens since then.

July 1, 2016
Berry Stops Talking

Mr.
Berry came to greet Ms. Lemley from behind the glass.
Lake City gave the Authority a free pass on the ADA
non-compliance.
(file)

On July 1, Ms. Lemley stopped into the LSHA offices
to ask Hospital Authority Manager Berry where the
monument was that used to be in the little park. It was
a simple, non-confrontational question.

When Ms. Lemley asked to speak with Mr. Berry she was
told she could relay the question through employee
Cynthia Watson.

Ms. Lemley said she would rather speak with Mr. Berry
directly and took a seat.

About five minutes later Ms. Watson announced that
Mr. Berry was coming.

Ms. Lemley went to the window and before she had a
chance to speak, Mr. Berry said, "You want to
communicate with me, you do it by email. That's the only
conversation I'm havin' with you."

According to Ms. Lemley, Mr. Berry turned and walked
back into the inner sanctum of the Authority offices.

On July 12, Ms. Lemley emailed Mr. Berry:

"Last week I stopped by the LSHA building to ask where
was the granite monument that was on the property where
the trees were removed. When you came to the window, you
turned away and stated you would only communicate by
email. Where is the monument?"

Monday night, August 8, was the Authority's monthly
meeting. Mr. Berry still had not responded to Ms.
Lemley's email of July 12.

Ms. Lemley went to the lectern and addressed the
Board and Mr. Berry"

"Where
is the monument that was located where the trees were
removed? Do you have an answer? I stopped by the office
on July 1st and asked Mr. Berry. Mr. Berry turned away
and stated you could only communicate by email. On July
12, I sent an email to Mr. Berry and Sonja and have not
had a response. Mr. Berry, can you tell me where the
monument is?"

Ms. Chancy: "Which monument are you speaking
about?"

Ms. Lemley explained.

None of the Board members volunteered anything.

Your reporter, also a taxpayer in the Hospital
District, told the Board a few minutes later, "I was
curious to know about the monument, too. That monument
has disappeared. It's just gone. Maybe somebody could
give us an explanation for that?"

Berry: "Maybe they'll shut up"

On
July 8, a photo along the fence line which ends at the
hospital. According to Manager Berry, the monument is
"right next to the hospital building,"

Without taking his hand away from the side of his
head, Mr. Berry said to Chairwoman Chancy, "Let me
explain where the monument is. Maybe they'll shut up
about it."

Your reporter asked, "Say that again, please."

Manager Berry took his hand away from his face,
turned toward your reporter, and in a loud, annoyed
voice said, "It was removed and put right next to a
hospital buildin' over there until that area is finished
and it will be put back. If you'd looked up next to the
hospital, you'd see it."

Your reporter responded, "All I did was ask. I don't
have to do an inspection tour of the hospital. All she
did was ask."

For the first time Chairwoman Chancy looked
embarrassed by Mr. Berry's behavior, "We're in the
middle of refurbishing the area and things will be back
where they're supposed to be. OK."

The Story Did Not End There

On the afternoon of August 9, Mr. Berry emailed Ms.
Lemley some photos of the monument with the following
message [as received]:

Being the concerned citizen that you are, and worried to
death about the monument, I have enclosed the following
pictures of where it is located, sorry that I upset you
by moving the monument to avoid damage during the
cutting of the trees. I promise to move the
monument to a very visible location upon completion of
the development of that area.

LSHA 8 (clockwise from top):
Koby Adams - political operative and Liz Porter's Chief of
staff
Brandon Biel - latest Scott appointee and a young republican
on the move
Dr. Waseem Khan - a board member who
lives out of the county
Janet Creel - real estate broker
Ron Foreman - father of the County Atny
Tim Murphy - a nice guy, talented welder, clueless about
government
Board Chairwoman Lory Chancy - her main job appears to be
not to answer questions and to protect Columbia County's
legendary political operative, Jackson P. "Jack" Berry (in
the middle).